Everton wake up to an attacking nightmare after late Balogun transfer blow

[p]There was a point in the final hours of the summer business period when everything seemed to be falling into place. By the deadline, everything had fallen apart.[/p][p]The worst situation surrounds [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/balgun-folarin/rVZLmUsU/"]Folarin Balogun[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/news/flashscore-sources-everton-working-on-a-deal-to-sign-folarin-balogun/ns0ldEPk/"]who was targeted[/a] to join from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/monaco/2PIvr8o4/"]AS Monaco[/a] to add to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/everton/KluSTr9s/"]Everton[/a]'s goal threat. The player dramatically changed his mind on the move as the transfer deadline passed.[/p][p]Now, the club must pick themselves up and hope their paper-thin squad can hold their own through to the winter.[/p][p]Initially, Everton agreed a £40m fee with Monaco for USA striker Balogun. But after he failed a medical, they tried to renegotiate the deal. Rather than simply walk away, Everton kept working on it, and Monaco eventually agreed to let him move for an adjusted fee.[/p][p]At the same time, the Toffees [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/news/flashscore-sources-man-united-and-joshua-zirkzee-leave-door-open-to-late-exit/YDWdkVQp/"]had been exploring a move[/a] for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/zirkzee-joshua/CCdlIA7L/"]Joshua Zirkzee[/a] from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/manchester-united/ppjDR086/"]Manchester United[/a].[/p][p]It was a back-up plan to Balogun that could have proven quick and easy. They knew United and Zirkzee were open to him leaving, and thought they had a loan lined up.[/p][p][b]It was an insurance policy for the Balogun deal that made sense.[/b][/p][p]But then United pulled back. They decided it would be more beneficial to keep Zirkzee around than let him solve a problem for a rival Premier League club - especially one they face this coming weekend.[/p][p]It did not seem to matter too much at the time, as the Balogun deal was back on.[/p][p]A deal sheet was submitted to the Premier League - which was signed by Balogun and allowed Everton extra time to complete the transfer beyond the 23:00 deadline. [/p][embed guid="71d4015c-6a40-4e2a-b6b1-d9faf6196b4a" url="https://x.com/FabrizioRomano/status/2094929256774009303" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]However, Balogun decided he did not want to proceed. His change of heart is intriguing, considering he has spent the entire summer angling for a transfer and has not been involved at all at Monaco this season as he has been waiting for his next landing spot to open up.[/b][/p][p]To make matters more frustrating, Everton also made an enquiry about [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/aston-villa/W00wmLO0/"]Aston Villa[/a]'s [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/abraham-tammy/OYhxyduf/"]Tammy Abraham[/a], but could not find any breakthrough on a deal. And other attacking options had already moved on.[/p][p]Star attacker [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ndiaye-iliman/Im0c6Oy7/"]Iliman Ndiaye[/a] signed for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/manchester-city/Wtn9Stg0/"]Manchester City[/a] for £60m, while a deal for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/richarlison/K82Dz773/"]Richarlison[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/news/football-premier-league-everton-remain-keen-on-grealish-move-after-richarlison-agreement/0I7OODHN/"]that had been worked on at the end of last week[/a] was confirmed as dead. He stayed at [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/tottenham/UDg08Ohm/"]Tottenham[/a].[/p][p]That was not the end of it as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/beto/EPUEfWCc/"]Beto[/a] left too, joining [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/fiorentina/Q3A3IbXH/"]Fiorentina[/a] for a package worth around £15.4m.[/p][p][b]Every attacking transfer decision had gone badly wrong.[/b][/p][p]There was one ray of light as Everton secured [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/grealish-jack/QVKaRfO9/"]Jack Grealish[/a] on loan from Manchester City for the remainder of the season. That could prove significant as Grealish brings Premier League experience, creativity and the ability to change games.[/p][p][b]Grealish also now brings much-needed depth, joining [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/dibling-tyler/SIOR1GlO/"]Tyler Dibling[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/johnson-brennan/6XhWIWPP/"]Brennan Johnson[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/george-tyrique/QPjr5Otn/"]Tyrique George[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/barry-thierno/KYQuxWEL/"]Thierno Barry[/a] among Everton's front line options.[/b][/p][p]The club will get a chance to make up for their transfer problems when the window reopens in January.[/p][p]But right now, Everton's squad - particularly the attack - looks worryingly thin.[/p][infobox id="f961102e-920a-4281-b5f2-f996852544cf" /]